I don't like cricket, oh no. I love it!

Credit where it's due, you have to hand it to Martyn Starnes. The club's Chief Executive showed this week that he has his finger firmly on the pulse of public opinion by blaming last Saturday's paltry attendance of 3,364 on the fact that Somerset were playing a one-day cricket match 26 miles away at Taunton.

The sad thing, he's probably right. A few hundred sports fans who otherwise might have come to Huish Park to watch the Glovers take on Tranmere Rovers probably did find it all to easy to change their plans and go and watch a cricket match instead. Okay, they would have to pay slightly more for their entertainment, £18 a ticket in advance at Taunton as compared to £15-£18 at Huish Park, depending on whether you want to sit or stand; or £22 on the day at the cricket, compared to £17-£20 at Yeovil. But there again, go to the cricket and you're entertained all day for your money, go to the football and 2 hours later you've got to go home.

In fact it's quite interesting to make some more comparisons. Fancy something to eat at the County Ground? No problem sir. Choose from the match-day carvery, or something off the menu in the two (count 'em!) different restaurants, one for members and one for non-members. If your tastes run to plainer fare there's a fish 'n' chips outlet and any amount of kiosks and burger bars. Fancy a drink? You're in luck! Choose from three (count 'em!) different bars and if you want to take your drink to your seat to watch the action they'll give you a tray to carry it on. I think I'll stop there. It's perhaps lucky for the football club that the football and cricket season's don't overlap too much. If both sports are trying to attract the same audience then as far as facilities are concerned the cricket wins hands down.

One thing the football club has often been accused of in the past is failing to make the most of what facilities do exist at Huish Park, particularly the upstairs bars. Apart from at home games, Sunday carveries and the odd private party the main bar is never in use, a waste of a perfectly good venue. It's good to report then that today the club has published a Huish Park Leisure Guide with details of forthcoming events at the club. Attractions coming up before Christmas include stand-up comedy nights, Pink, Elvis and Abba tribute acts, a meet the manager night and various other entertainments. As far as I know it's the first time the club has ever attempted such an ambitious programme of entertainment. I hope it succeeds. We've all been moaning on for years that there's never anything on at the club, well now there is. If the events are well supported then it might be enough to show that a new social club is not only needed, it's actually wanted. Good luck to the club in this very worthwhile venture.

As for this weekend's football, the Glovers are away at promotion favourites Huddersfield. Regular keeper John Sullivan is injured so Skivo has brought in Stephen Henderson on loan from Bristol City to replace him. A good choice I'm sure in most people's eyes, Henderson is a fine keeper who's been unlucky not to feature more for TBCUTR. Apart from that I wouldn't expect the gaffer to change a winning team, injuries permitting. The bookies make the home side very firm favourites at 8/15 on, the draw is priced at 3/1 and a Glovers win at a frankly insulting 5/1. We don't actually have a bad record at the Galpharm since we entered the football league - played 6, won 2, drawn 1, lost 3; and I fancy us to add to that this weekend. A win may be too much to ask so my fiver's going on the draw. Running total: +£3.25p.

Just read: Cyberabad Days by Ian McDonald: Not so much a prequel or a sequel to the author's award-winning River of Gods, more a companion-piece. A super collection of short stories set in India 50 years from now; an India split into many smaller nation-states, where wars are fought over water rights, where boys outnumber girls by 4 to 1, and where tv soap stars are actually virtual reality AI's... Recommended.